inspired by a true story……..
Books
Free Book* – A Review
Feb 24th
I love books. I like books that make me feel good, inspire me and match my thought process. I like books that teach me new things, see things from a different perspective and strengthen my beliefs. Every now and then, a book comes a long that walks across the room and gets directly in your face. It grabs you around the collar, lifts you out of your seat and tells you like it really is. It calls you out. It challenges you. It makes you uncomfortable for all of the right reasons. Enter the book “Free Book*” by Brain Tome.
Brian Tome is the Senior Pastor of Crossroads Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. While I don’t mean this to sound creepy or weird, I would like to meet this guy. I don’t want to meet him in a fanatical sort of way, I want to shake his hand. I want to personally thank him for writing the best book I have ever read. Period. Thanks to facebook, I was able to send him a note to thank him, but I’d really like to sit down and talk about this one. I can’t believe the timing and I can’t believe how this book hit me right where I needed to hear it…on many levels.
I am going to tell you right now that this isn’t your average, everyday “Jesus Loves You” kind of book. This is an in your face reminder that we are FREE in Christ. There are things that you will read that might make you a bit uncomfortable. Before you put the book down, ask yourself why this makes you uncomfortable. I’m not sure if I speak for you, but I know I don’t like someone being brutally honest with me. I certainly don’t like reading it in a book from a guy I have never met. I kept reading and realized that I need honest. I need someone reminding me of the freedom I have often missed while being in bondage to strongholds in my life. I’ve missed freedom by forgiving but not forgetting. I’ve allowed bitterness and a past I regret to be chains that hold me down.
I cannot say enough about the impact that “Free Book*” has had on me in the days since I began reading it. One night I read chapters regarding bitterness and strongholds. I took some time to identify the ones in my life and pray over each on specifically. I literally awoke the next morning with the hymn “Blessed Assurance” on my mind. You can ask my wife, I was singing it all morning. I’m not a guy that walks around singing hymns so this was not normal activity for me. It was, however, a reminder of the covenant I had made through prayer the night before.
Will you wake up singing hymns just because you read “Free Book*”? I doubt it. That’s not what I am going for in this review. What I will promise you is that you will be challenged. You will be asked to take a hard, tough look at your life and your journey. You will be reminded that we are FREE in Christ. For this and many other reasons, I say that “Free Book*” is the best book I have ever read. I encourage you to get a copy for yourself and see the freedom that you are missing.
I give “Free Book*” a 5 out of 5!
Note: Thomas Nelson sent me the above book for review purposes. It will allow me to keep the book. I have received no other compensation from Thomas Nelson.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Book Review – De-Railed
Feb 10th
When I graduated from college, I knew I wanted to work in “Corporate America”. There is something about the business world that just drives me. It was with that in mind that I decided to review the book “De-Railed : Five Lessons Learned From Catastrophic Failures Of Leadership” by Dr. Tim Irwin. This book really hits a point with me on two fronts. First, I am responsible for an entire division within our organization. It was created from scratch 5 years ago, and I took the wheel of a newly created position 3 years ago. Leadership of something so critical to our organizations success is something I take very seriously. Second, I report directly to our CEO. Due to that, I have intimate knowledge of the challenges that he faces to produce, succeed and grow our organization.
“De-Railed” is a breakdown of five very public and critical failures from CEO’s in the last 5 to 10 years. Each one had a different form in which they became De-Railed. From failures of ego to questions regarding moral behavior and conduct, Dr. Tim Irwin does a very good job of describing their failures while not demeaning their character. He actually closes most of the chapters with a positive word about “where they are now” and how they can avoid those same mistakes in the future.
The rest of the book is dedicated to outlining the key character traits that will prevent all of us from becoming de-railed. There are assessments and suggestions as to how to analyze your “Character Quotient”. It is an excellent resource for anyone in leadership. With the current challenges of the economy and continued pressures that accompany expectations, it is a good reminder that we must stay on track and character matters.
As I read “De-Railed“, I found myself very appreciative of our CEO. So much so that my internal alarm prompted me to email him with a note of appreciation. In my experience, CEO’s are often the guy that, no matter how quality they are, have to make a tough decision. I have also seen that even when the decisions are the right thing to do, the field never sees it that way. No matter how it’s presented, the CEO can often be the loneliest position in the organization. Our CEO responded and asked he could read the book as well. I ordered him a copy last week.
While not the typical kind of book I review here, “De-Railed” is a very good read for anyone in leadership or Corporate America. It will give you perspective on the man or woman that is sitting in the CEO chair of your organization. It might also give you some ideas as to how to support or approach that same individual.
I give De-Railed a 4 out of 5.
*I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for allowing me to review this book for free on this blog.
Currently Reading
Dec 7th
My good friend (and soon to be 1/2 marathon running partner) David Schroeder from Thomas Nelson was kind enough to send me a copy of “The Search For God and Guinness”. I was wrapping up a few other books so was not able to start on it until just a few days ago. I’m only a few chapters in but already find this book to be fascinating. I’ll give you a full review sometime in the future, but if you’re wondering why I’m reading a book about beer (and believe me I’ve gotten questions), check out this quick video. This might explain why I find this book and the Guinness Company so amazing. Special thanks to my friend David. This will give us something to chat about over those 13.1 miles in Nashville!
Book Review – Living With Confidence
Nov 13th
Anyone else exhausted each time you watch the news (Fox, MSNBC, CNN or otherwise)? I know I am. All we need to know about the world and it’s pains right now can be found on the Drudge Report. We all know the stories, the headlines and the insanity that is going on right now. It can beat down even the most optimistic of people when it’s all around you. Enter the book “Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World” by Dr. David Jeremiah.
I have not read the book “What In The World Is Going On” by the same author (yet), “Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World” is the blueprint on how believers can find an anchor for these times and those yet to come. Reading and interpreting prophecy can be a scary thing. So many of the messages regarding the future are cryptic and keep the best scholars on their toes. However scripture does give us clear understand and direction on how we are to live. Dr. David Jeremiah introduces many of these instructions through this book. He does so in the following way:
1.Stay Calm
2. Stay Compassionate
3.Stay Constructive
4. Stay Challenged
5. Stay Connected
6. Stay Centered
7. Stay Confident
8. Stay Consistent
9. Stay Committed
10. Stay Convinced
“Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World” is a great reminder of our role and our calling in these times. While none of us knows “the hour or the day”, we can live with confidence in our Savior. I give “Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World” a 4 out of 5.
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years – A Review
Sep 29th
About 2 years ago, I got an email from a Pastor in the blogosphere with one simple question on it. It said “What’s your story”. That was it. Three simple words. I had no idea how to respond to that email. There were literally about a thousand directions I could got with the answer. I have since emailed, talked on the phone and even had the pleasure of meeting that Pastor in person once. Even though we don’t know each other well, I count him as a friend. One of the first things I said to him when we met in person was “remember that email you sent me and what you asked me?” Something about that question really struck a chord.
All of that brings me to the new book by another one of my favorite authors, Donald Miller. The new book is called “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” and it is one of the best books I have read this year. I literally COULD NOT put this book down. Something in it struck me and I felt as if I could have written pages of the book myself. Many of you know Donald Miller from his book “Blue Like Jazz” which seems to be at the top of many peoples “favorite books” list (including me). As much as I liked Blue Like Jazz, I actually liked “Searching for God Knows What” and “To Own a Dragon” even more. Of all of his books, To Own a Dragon left the biggest impact on me personally….until I read A Million Miles.
If you have read Donald Miller, you know that his writing is different than most authors. It’s more like sitting in a room with a guy as he just talks. You are pulled into the thoughts and ramblings of a guy that is just trying to piece this whole thing together. His books are at times, hilarious, and other times brutally honest. Maybe that is why I enjoy them so much. I think I would be fast friends wtih Donald Miller. He writes in a way that makes you think you would too.
The book picks up at the beginning with how they are going to make a movie from the book “Blue Like Jazz”. You can find out more about that project (HERE). What Donald quickly finds out is that there is more to a movie than just taking a book and putting it on film. He learns that the audience needs a story and quite frankly, his life is missing one. Most of the book is his writing of HIS story as he begins to really LIVE and not just exist anymore. This is where I found our story to be so similar. While I have never ridden a bike across the country (which Donald did for charity while writing this book), I can totally align with his thoughts from my running experiences this past year. Here is just one quote that I underlined:
After a while the story about training for Peru was going well. It was suspenseful, because I’d go work out with Dave, and every time I worked out, I’d feel out of shape, and that made me wonder if I had what it took to finish the hike. Suddenly my life wasn’t boring or meaningless. There was something I had to do in order to keep a bad thing from happening.
It’s true that while ambition creates fear, it also creates the story. But is a good trade, because as soon as you point toward a horizon, life no longer feels meaningless. And suddenly there is risk in your story and a question about whether you’ll make it.
A year ago I ran around the block with a friend (ironically also named Dave) and next thing I know we were signed up for a 4 mile race on Thanksgiving Day. I absolutely understand what Donald means in the quote above. I suddenly had risk in that I didn’t want to fail or quit that 4 mile run. I wanted to finish. That was me “pointing toward a horizon”. I suddenly had meaning and a place to distract me from myself. A year later and I have run a 4 miler, several 5K’s, a 10K, two half marathon’s and a full marathon. Its not about the races though. It is about what each of those have taught me about myself, my story and my meaning in life. The meaning is not running, but it is the vehicle by which I have been able to sort it all out. That is why this book, for me, became very personal and so treasured.
I HIGHLY recommend the book “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years”. If you are a Donald Miller fan, you will love this book. If you have never read Donald Miller, you will be a fan by the time you have finished it. Ask yourself the question that my friend Paul asked me 2 years ago right now….”What is Your Story?. If you don’t have an answer, there is NO better time to read “A Million Miles” and start writing your own story today!
I give “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” a 5 out of 5!
What Difference Do It Make – A Review
Sep 22nd
I recently received a copy of the book “What Difference Do It Make” from my friends at Thomas Nelson Publishing to review. This is a follow up book to one which I did not read called “Same Kind of Different As Me“. Now that I have read this book, I am interested in reading the original one too. With all that is going on in this world, it is easy to wonder how much one person can really do to change something. You wonder if anything that we do in this life really makes a difference. This book gives 2 reasons to answer that question with a very loud YES!
What Difference Do It Make is written by Ron Hall, Denver Moore and Lynn Vincent. In a unique way, it takes their individual stories and walks you through their lives. It shows you how decisions we make, paths we follow and passions we pursue can ultimately make the difference in our lives as well as the lives of many others. One of the things that stood out to me most was in the very beginning of the book. One of the authors recently lost his wife to cancer and was recounting the story of what a friend said to him after her death.
She referred to the scripture where Jesus says “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”. She went on to tell him that she thought his wife’s death would be like that…fruitful. He said, at the time, he didn’t really want to hear that but has come to understand and see what God was able to do through his wifes life and ultimately, her death.
Having wrestled with the loss of friends at an early age, this portion of the book really hit home with me. “What Difference Do It Make” is an inspirational book that will remind each one that reads it that we can make a difference. We are here for a short time, but the impact we can make in that time is beyond our understanding. If you are searching for meaning or direction to how you may make a difference, then this book is for you.
I give “What Difference Do It Make” a 4 out of 5.
